How Hovercrafts Use Flexible Skirts to Ride on Air

This patent describes a gas-cushion vehicle, or hovercraft, that uses a specific arrangement of flexible walls to contain a cushion of pressurized gas and separate foreign matter from the escaping air.

What it covers

The patent outlines a vehicle body supported by a cushion of gas. It features an inner flexible wall structure, with its upper part fixed to the vehicle and its lower part hanging freely, which helps contain the gas cushion. Crucially, there's an outer 'wall means' spaced from this inner flexible wall, forming a vertical chamber. This outer wall also has a flexible part that hangs down, reaching at least the same level as the inner flexible wall. Gas is supplied directly into the space beneath the vehicle. As gas escapes from the cushion, it flows upward through this chamber, allowing foreign matter like water spray or dust to separate and settle within the chamber, as described in claim 1.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover air-cushion vehicles that lack the specific 'wall means' creating an upward-flowing chamber for foreign matter separation.
• —Does not cover hovercraft designs where the outer flexible wall does not extend downward to substantially the same level as the inner flexible wall.
• —Does not cover vehicles that use rigid skirts or walls instead of the described flexible wall structures.
• —Does not cover hovercrafts where the escaping gas does not flow upward through a chamber designed to separate foreign matter.

The clever bit

The clever part is the specific design of the double flexible wall system that creates a vertical chamber. This chamber forces the escaping air to flow upwards, which allows heavier foreign matter, like water droplets or dust, to fall out of the airflow and separate, preventing it from being recirculated or ejected in a way that could cause damage or reduce efficiency.

Why it matters

This patent is foundational for hovercraft technology, building on the work of Sir Christopher Cockerell, who is widely recognized as the inventor of the modern hovercraft. His designs enabled vehicles to travel over various surfaces, including water, land, and ice, by riding on a cushion of air. The principles laid out here were critical for developing practical hovercrafts used in transport and military applications.

Real-world examples

• 1.SR.N4 Mountbatten class hovercraft
• 2.Griffon Hoverwork 8000TD hovercraft
• 3.Textron Systems Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC)
• 4.Various commercial and recreational hovercrafts